Lord Mahavir was born in Bihar in 599 B.C... His father’s name was King Siddharth and mother’s name was Queen Trishla. His mother had 14 auspicious dreams during her pregnancy. When he born, his father’s wealth increased, that’s why they decided to name the new born child Vardhaman, which means ever increased. As time spent and Vardhaman became young and handsome prince. Due to his brave nature he also became known as Mahavir, means, fearless.
He was married with Yashodhara and he had a daughter named Priyadarshana. When he was 28 years old, his parents passed away. However during this time, Vardhaman became detached from mundane pleasures and he decided to renounce the worldly pleasures in search of enlightenment. He went to his elder brother, Nandivardhan to take permission. His brother was worried about handling the palace and state by single hand. He told Vardhaman to stay in the palace for two more years. Vardhaman accepted this and stayed at his palace for two more years. During this time he distributed his wealth to the needy and poor people. He practiced meditation and fasting. Finally at age of 30, the day of renunciation approached. Vardhaman came out of his palace. Thousands of eyes were watching at him. He was looking great in the shining dress and ornaments. Gradually, he removed all the clothes and ornaments attached with his body; he plucked out his long hairs by his five handfuls. He put a single cloth on his shoulder, and uttered “Namo Siddhanam” as he left the place. He didn’t even look back at his palace. There was great joy and happiness on his face.
Now began the long journey of 12 and half years for shraman Mahavir. During these 12 and half years he bore many obstacles and calamities peacefully and silently. During these years he was tested by hevenly beings like Sangham, he was bitten by the snake, tortured by undomesticated peoples, and at last his ears were plugged with grass sticks. But he tolerated all the pain silently and happily. He forgave all the people. During these 12 and half years he had taken meal only equal to 1 year and he had taken sleep only for 48 minutes!!! Once he observed fast lasting for 5.5 months without even drinking water. He remained in deep silence and deep meditation. Mostly he used to stand in “Kayotsarg” or motion less posture, like a rock. His heart was always felt with compassion toward every form of living beings. He always kept his eyes on the ground while walking so he could not step on small insects.
Observing the details of Bhagavan Mahavir's twelve-year period of spiritual practices it becomes evident that his practices combined four qualities-1. Deep and undisturbed meditation, 2. Rigorous penance, 3. Extreme tolerance of pain, and 4. Ultimate equanimity.
Finally after 12 long years of spiritual pursuit he came to the village and sat in meditation in a “cow-milking posture”. It was the evening time. His mind was absorbed in the highest type of meditation. He was observing fast for two days without even drinking water. The sun was setting in west and the sun of omniscience was rising within his soul. Soon Lord Mahavir attained full enlightenment and awakening, visualizing everything in the entire universe, knowing the feelings of all living beings of the Universe. Mahavir had become Bhagavan (God), Jina (Victor), Sarvajna (all knowing), and Sarvadarshi (all perceiving).
After attaining omniscience, Lord Mahavir gave his first sermon. He converted 11 learned Brahmins and explained them the real nature of soul within body. Other 500 people took renunciation under Lord Mahavir’s order. 11 Brahmins became his disciples. Indrabhuti Gautam was chief disciple of Lord Mahavir. Indrabhuti was the first person to listen Lord’s words for the first time after omniscience. Then the number of people increased and once there were 50000 ascetics in Lord Mahavir’s order. All the 50000 had attained omniscience. The king Shrenik was strong devotee and listener of Lord Mahavir. Indrabhuti Gautam attained omniscience on the same night when Lord Mahavir attained Nirvana at the age 72. The last omniscient was Jambu Swami, after that nobody has attained omniscience in this part of the universe (Bharat Area). The next Tirthankar will born after 81,500 years.
Lord Mahavir was the last and 24th Tirthankar of the present era of time. He was last in the series of 24 Tirthankars. Lord Parshva was the 23rd who attained Nirvana 250 years before Lord Mahavir’s Nirvana. Lord Parshva and Lord Mahavir are historically accepted. The first Tirthankar was Lord Rishabhdev who lived billions of years ago. Lord Rishabhdev is also mentioned in the Hindu scriptures as an avatar of Lord Vishnu. In the present time, Lord Simandhar Swami is a living Tirthankar but he is in other part of the Universe called Maha Videha Area. Liberation is possible if we born there.
He was married with Yashodhara and he had a daughter named Priyadarshana. When he was 28 years old, his parents passed away. However during this time, Vardhaman became detached from mundane pleasures and he decided to renounce the worldly pleasures in search of enlightenment. He went to his elder brother, Nandivardhan to take permission. His brother was worried about handling the palace and state by single hand. He told Vardhaman to stay in the palace for two more years. Vardhaman accepted this and stayed at his palace for two more years. During this time he distributed his wealth to the needy and poor people. He practiced meditation and fasting. Finally at age of 30, the day of renunciation approached. Vardhaman came out of his palace. Thousands of eyes were watching at him. He was looking great in the shining dress and ornaments. Gradually, he removed all the clothes and ornaments attached with his body; he plucked out his long hairs by his five handfuls. He put a single cloth on his shoulder, and uttered “Namo Siddhanam” as he left the place. He didn’t even look back at his palace. There was great joy and happiness on his face.
Now began the long journey of 12 and half years for shraman Mahavir. During these 12 and half years he bore many obstacles and calamities peacefully and silently. During these years he was tested by hevenly beings like Sangham, he was bitten by the snake, tortured by undomesticated peoples, and at last his ears were plugged with grass sticks. But he tolerated all the pain silently and happily. He forgave all the people. During these 12 and half years he had taken meal only equal to 1 year and he had taken sleep only for 48 minutes!!! Once he observed fast lasting for 5.5 months without even drinking water. He remained in deep silence and deep meditation. Mostly he used to stand in “Kayotsarg” or motion less posture, like a rock. His heart was always felt with compassion toward every form of living beings. He always kept his eyes on the ground while walking so he could not step on small insects.
Observing the details of Bhagavan Mahavir's twelve-year period of spiritual practices it becomes evident that his practices combined four qualities-1. Deep and undisturbed meditation, 2. Rigorous penance, 3. Extreme tolerance of pain, and 4. Ultimate equanimity.
Finally after 12 long years of spiritual pursuit he came to the village and sat in meditation in a “cow-milking posture”. It was the evening time. His mind was absorbed in the highest type of meditation. He was observing fast for two days without even drinking water. The sun was setting in west and the sun of omniscience was rising within his soul. Soon Lord Mahavir attained full enlightenment and awakening, visualizing everything in the entire universe, knowing the feelings of all living beings of the Universe. Mahavir had become Bhagavan (God), Jina (Victor), Sarvajna (all knowing), and Sarvadarshi (all perceiving).
After attaining omniscience, Lord Mahavir gave his first sermon. He converted 11 learned Brahmins and explained them the real nature of soul within body. Other 500 people took renunciation under Lord Mahavir’s order. 11 Brahmins became his disciples. Indrabhuti Gautam was chief disciple of Lord Mahavir. Indrabhuti was the first person to listen Lord’s words for the first time after omniscience. Then the number of people increased and once there were 50000 ascetics in Lord Mahavir’s order. All the 50000 had attained omniscience. The king Shrenik was strong devotee and listener of Lord Mahavir. Indrabhuti Gautam attained omniscience on the same night when Lord Mahavir attained Nirvana at the age 72. The last omniscient was Jambu Swami, after that nobody has attained omniscience in this part of the universe (Bharat Area). The next Tirthankar will born after 81,500 years.
Lord Mahavir was the last and 24th Tirthankar of the present era of time. He was last in the series of 24 Tirthankars. Lord Parshva was the 23rd who attained Nirvana 250 years before Lord Mahavir’s Nirvana. Lord Parshva and Lord Mahavir are historically accepted. The first Tirthankar was Lord Rishabhdev who lived billions of years ago. Lord Rishabhdev is also mentioned in the Hindu scriptures as an avatar of Lord Vishnu. In the present time, Lord Simandhar Swami is a living Tirthankar but he is in other part of the Universe called Maha Videha Area. Liberation is possible if we born there.
-Rahul Zota (Bhuj-India)
Good brief of Manavir'r life. Now try reading his philosophies and doctrines. The practice them as far as possible.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comment! I am already reading and learning his philosophies... Will write about it soon in this blog..!
ReplyDeleteHello Mr Rahul
ReplyDeleteYou are a well known amateur astronomer and very active at science popularisation. Given that background I am concerned that such posts would promote mysticism and blind faith both of which are opposite to science and detrimental to it.
I appreciate your study of history and philosophy but wouldnt statements like the one in which you mention Mahavir's mother had 14 auspicious dreams directly conflict with science? We have no proof that dreams can be auspicious. In the days of Mahavir science was not known and it was probably this ignorance that led people to label dreams as auspicious and/or evil. We know better today, dont we?
Further in your post you have mentioned that Mahavir explained the "real nature of soul within the body". Again there is no proof of this. Just because one person has put forth one hypothesis does not make it true.
I understand that you are simply reporting historical incidents that have been told over years but that is where your background as a person of science should distinguish you. Challenge these notions or at least refrain from endorsing them.
I do not mean to offend you or anyone else. But I am concerned that even if you and most of us reading this would be able to question the validity of such incidents there will be a large population that will simply believe!
Coming to the specific claims by Mahavir, well most religions (if not all) claim to have an answer to the question of soul and the attainment of happiness (or nirvana as some claim). So whats so unique or special about this?
Mahavir may have been a great human being but I think we degrade such persons by associating beliefs, faith and rituals with their words. Wouldnt we be better off promoting the methods of science?
Nikhil Pawar
Scientific Officer
SPACE
` Mr. Nikhil..
ReplyDeleteSir i think that u r not aware of the Jainism.. U r just saying these words as a scientist who dont agree with the things.. U are absolutely right.. but tell me if you have dreams you know tht it is auspicious or nt?
Well about history or its a story i tel lyou one thing.. all the things related to Mahavira have been proved.. The Agam(Religious Book of Jain) found in South India hav been proved as original which states about Mahavira.. there might be sum changes in the story told to us but most of them are perfect n as wht we Jain`s know and believe..
But Science have been trying to criticize as they are afraid 2500 years back without the word science Jain`s were following religion which is based on Science of Today..
And if you want its a long topic n chapter.. we can discuss it for a very very long time..
n i bet Jainism can prove that science is a word or a method whch Jain`s follow..
Regards..
Vishal Srimal Jain
Tokyo, Japan..
There are two types of matter in the Universe. One is Jiva (living beings) and other is Ajiva (non-living beings). Physics and all the branches of science deal with Ajiva. Gravitation, Magnetic etc forces causes effect on Non-living matters. Jainism deals with both. Our soul is all conscious and it has infinite knowledge and bliss. But because of interaction with Non-living things, the soul accumulates karmic particles and as long as these particles are attached with soul, the soul transmigrates through infinite births and deaths and gains various forms of body like human, animals, plants etc. The human body has five senses and it gains knowledge of the Universe through his/her five senses and that’s why the knowledge is limited. That’s why we are unaware with our real self, our soul. Imagine a man is locked inside a room since his birth. The room has only five small windows and the man gains limited knowledge whatever he see through these windows. He doesn’t know what lies outside exactly. Same thing works with a living being (soul) trapped inside body. That is why only an enlightened person can tell the ultimate truth. If we study Jain doctrine preached by Tirtankars, we would realize that science is limited. It is gives only a glimpse of truth. It can never describe the ultimate truth. Even the great physicist Stephan Hawking has said that the ultimate truth will never be resolved.
ReplyDeleteplease do not use the word mahaveer we cant say mahaveer so pls say lord mahaveer or bhagawan mahaveer. sorry for comment. jainkeerthiahore@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing. It is really nice info about Lord mahavir
ReplyDeletethanks Ashutosh for comment
ReplyDelete